ingly exerted. Mr. Roderick is a man of very considerable powers of mind, of much acquired knowledge, and of great moral worth; and it has always been a subject of regret to his numerous friends and pupils,' that none of the preferments of the church have ever been bestowed upon him, who contributed to rear so many of its firmest supporters, and some of its brightest ornaments. But it is a fact too notorious not to be confessed, and too injurious to the best interests of the country not to be deplored, that far other considerations than those of desert bear sway in the distribution of ecclesiastical honours and rewards.

The venerable scholar and divine just named is still living; and if these pages should reach him in his rural retirement, it is hoped that he will accept the tribute of the few lines here traced, which the writer is well assured express, though feebly, the sense entertained of his merits by the late illustrious associate of his labours as a preceptor, and by all those to whom in that character he was known. Of these, alas! the greater part are no longer among the living: but some still survive to remember him, as they ever must, with esteem and gratitude.

Since the above sentences were penned, it is pleasing to the writer to be enabled to subjoin the testimony of Dr. Parr, in his own words, to the excellencies of "his old and his trusty friend," as left on record, amongst his most deliberate and matured thoughts on men and things, introduced

Maurice's Memoirs, part 1. p. 82.

with so much solemn and striking effect into his "Last Will." After having bequeathed a small legacy and a mourning-ring to the Rev. David Roderick, he adds, "whose sound understanding, whose various and deep learning, whose fidelity as a friend, and whose uprightness and piety as a Christian, have for the space of fifty years endeared his very name to my soul."-It is only to the retiring and unassuming worth on which these generous praises are bestowed, touched though they are with the warm glow of partial friendship, that they can appear-as from all his information the present writer is confident-more than truth would dictate, and justice approve.'

Stanmore School opened under favourable auspices. The whole number of pupils, almost immediately obtained, fell little short of sixty: and a general sentiment of concern for the disappointment which Dr. Parr had suffered at Harrow, concurred, with a high opinion of his qualifications, to produce through a large circle many ardent

In a letter addressed to the writer of these pages, Mr. Roderick considers the terms in which Dr. Parr speaks of him as far above all his just claims. But must we admit diffidence in receiving, to disprove merit in deserving, praise? Or might we not allow him, who has thus solemnly recorded his grateful and affectionate esteem amongst so many other similar records, to say, with his own admired Isocrates-Δίκαιον εἶναι νομίζων πάντας μὲν περὶ πολλοὺς ποιεῖσθαι τοὺς ἐμαυτῷ πεπλησιακότας καὶ γεγενημένους ἀξίους ἡμῶν· οὐχ ἥκιστα δὲ τοῦτον, καὶ διὰ τὴν εὔνοιαν τὴν εἰς ἡμὰς, καὶ διὰ τὴν ἀλλὴν ἐπιείκειαν. μαλίστα μὲν οὖν ἐβου· λόμην ἂν αὐτὸν συσταθῆναι δι' ἡμῶν. Isocr. Epis. ad Philippum. Men should not so far fear their own deservings, As to the low dishonouring of themselves. Shaks.

wishes for his success, and many strenuous endeavours to promote it.' Stimulated not only by the love of learning and the sense of duty, but also by the spirit of honourable rivalship with the school he had just left, the exertions of the tutor were great and meritorious; and the progress of the pupils was, in some due proportion, great and conspicuous. Many of these were young men of considerable talents, skilfully and vigorously cultivated, as may well be supposed, by those studies over which a Sumner presided, and in which a Parr assisted; and now resuming the same studies partly under the same direction, they were carried forward in a course of instruction, admirably adapted to complete the education of the school, preparatory to the higher pursuits of the college. Their ardour for literary improvement, placed as they were in circumstances of peculiar excitement, would naturally borrow some of its activity and its energy from fond attachment to the tutor, and zeal for the honour of his name.

Among his most zealous supporters at this time, were the Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Sumner, father of the late member for Surry, and the celebrated Dr. Askew.

CHAPTER VII.

A. D. 1771-1776.

Plan of studies in Stanmore School-The Greek languageimportance of it-The Greek authors read--Manner of explaining them-Greek versification - Writing GreekGreek plays acted-The Latin language-Authors readSome defects in the public schools noticed-Exercises of the memory-Study of English-Composition.

INSTEAD of offering, as he could have wished, a full and detailed account of the system of education adopted in Stanmore School, the writer is obliged to content himself with tracing its mere outlines, which, however, he trusts, will be found sufficient to convey some just idea of it to his readers.' On a subject so important as education, in its higher branches, the opinions of a man so eminently distinguished as Dr. Parr, for his learning, his sagacity, and his judgment, confirmed, as they after

The writer is most happy in being able to state, that the account contained in this and the following chapter, has been submitted to the perusal and the correction of one of the few surviving Stanmore scholars, Dr. Monro, an eminent physician, formerly of London, now of Bushey, near Watford, who is pleased to express his general opinion in the following words : "I am afraid I have done very little in contributing useful information respecting the subject of your inquiries. But, indeed, upon reading over your outline of the general plan of education, it seems to me as nearly the truth as it can be." The few, but valuable, communications with which Dr. Monro has favoured the writer, will be found inserted in some of the following pages.

wards were, by his long experience, may reasonably excite curiosity, and may fairly demand attention.

Superintended as it was by one of the first Grecians of the age, it might easily be supposed that in Stanmore School the study of Greek would form a leading object. Indeed, in every system of learned and liberal education, the study of that language is justly entitled to hold the first and principal place; and though the study itself must be confined chiefly to the literary and the superior orders of society, yet the beneficial influence of it is extended indirectly from them to all the more enlightened classes of the community. In the works of the ancient Greeks, every one knows, are presented the finest and most perfect models of composition in all its various kinds, historical, philosophical, rhetorical, and poetical. As long, therefore, as these works are known and read, and admired by the scholars and the writers of the age; so long the principles of pure and correct taste, and of sound critical judgment, cannot fail to be diffused extensively, and established permanently.

But it is not for the excellencies of composition alone that the literary productions of Greece have obtained, through so many successive ages, universal admiration. In the same writings, the noblest and most generous sentiments of conjugal, parental, filial, social affection, and the most elevated maxims of virtuous, dignified, public-spirited conduct are inculcated, with all the force of which argument is capable, and all the eloquence to which language can aspire. The wise precepts of